Debris/litter collecting apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for collecting litter from the ground includes a frame adapted for movement along the ground, a hopper mounted at one end of the frame; and a collector assembly supported on the frame. The collector assembly includes a pair of rollers having a plurality of flexible fingers disposed radially on the periphery thereof, the rollers being substantially parallel to each other and disposed in a plane that is substantially parallel to the ground. The rollers are arranged so that the fingers on one of the pair of rollers intermesh with the fingers of the other of the pair of rollers so as to be able to lift litter between them. The apparatus further includes a device for conveying litter lifted by the pair of rollers to the hopper. The conveying device includes a plurality of fingers that intermesh with the fingers of one of the pair of rollers so as to remove the litter from the one roller, and a system for rotating the pair of rollers and the conveyor about axes that are substantially transverse to the direction of movement of the frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for collecting litter from the ground, comprising: a frame adapted for movement along the ground;   a hopper mounted at one end of said frame; and   a collector assembly supported on said frame, said collector assembly including: first and second conveyor assemblies arranged substantially parallel to each other;   each of said conveyor assemblies including a belt, means for supporting a lower region of the belt and means for supporting an upper region of the belt;   fingers disposed on the outer periphery of each said belts, said belts and fingers arranged such that the fingers of said first conveyor assembly intermesh with the fingers of said second conveyor assembly;   means for driving the belts in opposite directions; and   a roller mounted to said frame above said conveyor assemblies, said roller having fingers disposed on the outer periphery thereof and arranged such that the fingers thereof intermesh with the fingers of one of said conveyor assemblies.     
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said conveyor assemblies are arranged substantially vertically. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower belt support means and the upper belt support means comprise rollers. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of tubes extending radially from each of said belts, wherein each of said fingers is mounted within a respective tube, and removable means for securing the fingers in their respective tubes. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an assembly for detachably mounting a finger to the rollers and the conveyor assemblies, said mounting assembly comprising: a tube secured by an attached end thereof to one of the rollers and the conveyor assemblies and being open at a free end thereof;   said tube being internally cylindrical over a majority of its length and adapted at the free end thereof to receive a finger; and   means for securing said finger within said cylindrical tube.   
     
     
       6. An apparatus for collecting litter from the ground, comprising: a frame adapted for movement along the ground in a direction of movement;   a hopper mounted at one end of said frame; and   a collector assembly supported on said frame, said collector assembly including: a pair of rollers having a plurality of flexible fingers disposed radially on the periphery thereof, said rollers being substantially parallel to each other and disposed in a plane that is substantially parallel to the ground;   said rollers arranged so that the fingers on one of said pair of rollers intermesh with the fingers of the other of said pair of rollers so as to be able to lift litter between them;   means for conveying litter lifted by said pair of rollers to the hopper, said conveying means including:   first and second conveyor assemblies arranged substantially parallel to each other;   each of said conveyor assemblies including a belt, means for supporting a lower region of the belt and means for supporting an upper region of the belt;   fingers disposed on the outer periphery of each of said belts, said belts and fingers arranged such that the fingers of said first conveyor assembly intermesh with the fingers of said second conveyor assembly; and     means for driving the belts in opposite directions;   wherein said conveying means is mounted above said pair of rollers so that the fingers of each of said pair of rollers intermesh with respective fingers on said conveyor assemblies; and   means for rotating the pair of rollers and said belts about axes that are substantially transverse to the direction of movement of said frame.   
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said conveyor assemblies are arranged substantially vertically. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the lower region belt support means and the upper region belt support means comprise rollers. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of tubes extending radially from each of said belts, wherein each of said fingers is mounted within a respective tube, and removable means for securing the fingers in their respective tubes. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising an assembly for detachably mounting a finger to the rollers and the conveyor assemblies, said mounting assembly comprising: a tube secured by an attached end thereof to one of the rollers and the conveyor assemblies and being open at a free end thereof;   said tube being internally cylindrical over a majority of its length and adapted at the free end thereof to receive a finger; and   means for securing said finger within said cylindrical tube.